The other week, Andy Kenney, a local journalist, posted a picture of his Halloween costume — Colorado’s Nov. 5 ballot! So long that it covered nearly his whole body. It was a funny take, but also highlighted the madness that election season has become.
I’m all for voting, but shouldn’t there be some kind of limit on how many issues are allowed on a given ballot? I understand the impulse to get as much as possible on the quadrennial ballot, which historically has the highest voter turnout. But when one is able to up as a ballot — and be dressed modestly — might we have gone a tad too far?
Many if not all of these measures, propositions, amendments, referred questions etc. etc. are highly complicated. I wonder how many Coloradans actually have the time, energy and nous to study and make an informed decision on the 20+ items. It’s why I often default to the “no” position, which essentially is a vote for the status quo. If I am going to vote to change something, typically a “yes” vote, it’s important that I’ve put in my time to understand the ins and outs and the possible impacts, good and bad.
Often ballot measures, like politics in general, devolve into simplistic soundbytes that fail to reflect the complexity of an issue.
In Switzerland, the strongest example of direct democracy and where I also happen to vote, there are four voting days a year. I’ve never seen more than four or five propositions on any ballot. Not only that, but political offices are on a totally separate ballot. A higher frequency, but each ballot is manageable.
Longer ballots in the US have led to longer voting tallies. What used to be Election Day is now Election Week, or even Election Month, a trend that has degraded voter confidence.
Thus far, I’ve only reviewed Denver’s questions, and I’m headed for another banner “no” year. The city keeps on asking for more and more money to do things that they have previously asked for more and more money to do. The city is doing a poor job of demonstrating how the money we keep giving it through increased taxes and mill levies is producing positive outcomes.
An example: A majority of DPS students are below grade level for math and reading. To get a yes vote from me, I need to see a very clear and simple explanation of how increased mill levies have improved academic, social and behavioral education among DPS students. Because statistics show they haven’t.
Denver — with its lack of affordable housing and rising costs — is in the higher end of combined sales taxes. I don’t have any money left to give — especially for things that don’t work.
Shana Goldberg may be reached at shana@ijn.com
